From the Nominator

We set up a one-day on-campus installation to ask Arizona State University students what pleasant surprises they found being on campus in fall 2020. Campus looked different in many ways, and students were afforded the flexibility of deciding which learning environment worked best for them. There were a lot of benefits to being surrounded by a community of support. We also asked students to get real with us—everyone has had to overcome challenges. Empowering themselves with a growth mindset, students also shared their plan for spring 2021.

From the Judges

Despite its small scale, this event was an imaginative way to share student experiences with a wider audience. We felt it gave the students a voice about their experiences in the pandemic, and liked how it encouraged them to think in a positive way. Lots of mileage and reach for a very small budget. Simple but effective and a nice idea to build a sense of community at a difficult time for students. Lo-fi materials combined with professional production: a winning combination.